The Ten Commandments . . . RULES FOR LOVING

9 The truth about lying The ninth commandment “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour” (Deuteronomy 5:20) The truth about lying

Institute of behaviour motivation – a study with 3000 people revealed that 97% lie on a regular basis

1. The Sin of lying “Men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt. 12:36) “There is no one righteous, not even one … they use their tongues to deceive” (Romans 3:10-13) “You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness” (Exodus 23:1)

intentionally malicious to escape consequences Ways we can lie: 1. The cruel lie intentionally malicious 2. The cowardly lie to escape consequences 3. The conceited lie to create an image 4. The calculated lie to manipulate 5. The convenient lie

Types of lies: Bold faced lie Flattery Half truth Excuse Hypocrisy Cheating Spin Denial

2. The Seriousness of lying Lying is the direct opposite to God’s nature “A God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He” (Deuteronomy 32:4) “All His works are done in truth” (Psalm 33:4)

Truth: affirmation of what is reality – the actual fact of the matter – that which has certainty, and is trustworthy - upon which we can rely.

2. The Seriousness of lying Lying is the direct opposite to God’s nature “A God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He” (Deuteronomy 32:4) “All His works are done in truth” (Psalm 33:4) “the God of truth” (Isaiah 65:16) "Your word is truth" (John 17:17) “It is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18)

A lie: what does not represent reality and is said with the intent to deceive "Do not lie. Do not deceive one another” Leviticus 19:11-12

There are seven things “that the LORD hates, that are detestable to Him: a lying tongue, a false witness who pours out lies…” (Proverbs 6:16-19)

The Seriousness of lying Lying aligns us with Satan “You belong to your father, the devil … there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44 )

The Seriousness of lying Lying condemns us before God “But the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, the idolaters and all liars - their place will be in the lake of fire” Rev. 21:8 Lying reveals our sinful nature “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34)

The Seriousness of lying Lying destroys our integrity “Let your yes be yes …” (James 5.12) Lying is destructive in it’s nature “With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbour” (Prov. 11:9)

3. The Solution to lying By telling the truth Set truth as a primary value “You desire truth in the inward parts” Psalm 51 "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds“ Colossians 3:9 “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body” Ephesians 4:25

The Solution to lying Submit to the Spirit’s leading “Be filled with the Spirit … Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs…” (Eph 5:18-20)

The Solution to lying By living the truth “… full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy” (James 3:17) “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them” (Rom 12:9)  “The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith” (1 Tim 1:5)

"Lord, who may dwell in Your sanctuary. Who may live on Your holy hill "Lord, who may dwell in Your sanctuary? Who may live on Your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbour no wrong and casts no slur on his fellow-man . . . and who keeps his oath even when it hurts” (Psalm 15:1-3)